Chuck Liddell – Still A Champion To Many Fans Even In Defeat
September 9, 2008 at 11:30 am by Jason Hatcher in News
My previous article about the uncertainty of Chuck Liddell’s career set my inbox on fire. Rather than comments online, I have received numerous private messages regarding the devastating knockout of Liddell on Saturday night at UFC 88. I wasn’t flogged with any sort of criticism but rather a need for others to express their disbelief and occasional pain.
Following these numerous email replies with a number of Liddell supporters ranging from sad to angry to disillusioned, I stumbled across a fan video that in many ways summarizes the general tone of many Chuck Liddell fans around the world this week. Intentional or not, this video is cruelly hilarious. But it also speaks to a basic level of truth and honesty from a loyal fan.
In my own mind, Liddell’s loss on Saturday night was simply one of those historic moments. An MMA shocker sure to be reeled back-and-forth through video replay for years to come. Place it upon the same shelf with Matt Serra’s win over Georges St. Pierre and Gabriel Gonzaga’s metaphorical decapitation of Mirko “CroCop” Filipovic. But in many ways it is nearly impossible to defend Chuck Liddell’s loss at UFC 88 without taking away from Rashad Evans’ own worthy performance.
Rashad Evans simply timed his shots better in the second round and fought the smarter fight in the end. It was claimed by Evans’ trainer Greg Jackson following the fight, that the faint Evans used to coax Liddell in before the overhand right was rehearsed and engineered. But whether or not this is an accurate claim is potential debate for analysts in the coming weeks.
The overwhelming and negative fan reaction to Liddell’s destruction on Saturday only further reveals the uphill battle Rashad Evans faces in the months leading up to his title shot. Popularity and marketability sells fights. And if Evans had it tough with fans as he faced Liddell, facing Forrest Griffin will likely find him in an even deeper hole of fan opposition. Griffin, along with Liddell, is one of the UFC’s most popular fighters.
Sometimes the good guy versus bad guy scenario can elevate a title fight into the realms of folklore. Only time will tell if Evans continues his path down the road of unpopularity. But if anything, Evans might deserve at least a nod from Liddell loyalists for pulling off the biggest upset of 2008.
Here are some shots from the controversial fight. Photographs by Josh Hedges. All photos Copyright Zuffa, LLC. For editorial use only.
The UFC 88 Post Fight Conference can be viewed at SPIKE TV Online.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Jason, great video. Can you post a representative sample of the e-mail’s you received? I’d like to read some of the most outrageous. I’m sure they would be entertaining. I agree with you assessment about reaction to Rashad. Since reading your first post I’ve trolled around different blogs and there is a definite lack of praise for Rashad’s performance.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Per your request Murray. Here are a few messages I received.
Jamie:
You know, Chuck is a great fighter and will always be remembered as such. Maybe his time is up. There are so many young fighters coming up the ranks, but I don’t feel like Chuck is done. He still has that fighter in him and I feel like he will come back. Maybe not get the title back but at least go out on a win.
Kesner:
I couldn’t believe that knockout. Didn’t even think Evans had that much power.
Kristie:
I have to give Rashad credit, it was a nice shot … impressive for sure. However, I find watching Evans fight more disturbing than seeing someone endure a seizure.
Jimmy Lee:
That was a nasty knockout from Evans … cold.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I wonder where this KO leaves Liddell in the UFC hierarchy. He’s lost 3 of his last 4 fights, and seems almost too old to start from scratch.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Re: Matt D
It is certainly a challenging place for Liddell currently. He is one of the most popular fighters in UFC history yet he has fallen deep into the top ten ranks to the very place he was before his fight with Wanderlei Silva. Liddell has to start back up the hill to the top and it will not be easy at his age in such a deep, youthful division. But then again, Randy Couture only recently achieved the same goal at heavyweight. Only the future knows for sure.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Nice clip! An accurate, although slurred, example of what many fans felt only moments after the KO…cruel yes, but funny so thanks.
My initial reaction to this fight came like a golf club to my skull and I thought “whoa I just saw the end of the Iceman” but once that passed and the blood returned to my brain it became a clearer picture. This is a PERFECT example of the crazy, unpredictable, uncertainty that every mixed martial artist faces each time they enter the octagon. You just never know what can happen.
Sure, Chuck’s future is difficult to predict and will be a major challenge but there are many factors to consider and I don’t believe that Rashad has just put the final nail in his coffin, as so many other blogs have stated. Not to take anything away from Rashad, he did the work – he fought his fight and he made history in that one moment – he deserves the credit for that.
However, as he stands tall taking credit for his achievement, I also believe that he should stand in the fact that his uphill battle for popularity is largely due to his own behavior. You either show up with respect for the sport and the other athletes or you showboat – the fans quickly put you in one category or another and your bed is made.
As a fan with a history in and deep love of martial arts, it’s always more enjoyable to watch the hard-working and humble Forrest Griffin win a belt, the mad respect shown between Franklin and Silva, the level of class and integrity of too many fighters to list here. My point is that the game is stacked with those elite, true, mixed martial artists who simply love the fight…love the competition and for them it’s more about pushing themselves to another level than it is about showing off. There is an opportunity for Rashad to swing his “fan pendulum” the other way but it’s going to be work. For the sport and every athlete committed to it, I hope he can. For the record, I’ll be wearing a Team Griffin shirt for that match-up!